MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (“MGI”), a company dedicated to developing core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life sciences, has joined efforts with Lincoln University in Canterbury to address sustainable challenges in viticulture through advanced sequencing technology. The initiative aims to utilize genomics to breed better varieties of grapevines and hops that are tolerant and resistant to pests and diseases, thus reducing fungicide use across New Zealand’s $2.1 billion wine export industry.
Viticulture Challenges in New Zealand: Disease, Chemicals and Sustainability Pressure
Viticulture is a significant economic source of revenue for New Zealand, ranking as the nation’s sixth-largest export earner.[1]
However, like many primary sectors, it faces intensifying pressure to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact. The country’s vineyards are particularly vulnerable to fungal diseases, often requiring frequent and broad-spectrum spraying to maintain vine health and grape quality.
Each year, New Zealand farmers apply approximately 3,400 tonnes of pesticides. Alarmingly, under the US Environmental Protection Agency classification, 60% of fungicides and 72% of plant growth regulators used locally are considered potential carcinogens. This has placed the sector in the crosshairs of consumer and environmental scrutiny, particularly as climate change drives more volatile weather conditions that heighten disease risks.[2]
New Pathways from Genomics
To address these challenges, a team of New Zealand scientists has started a genomic study to reduce the wine sector’s reliance on chemical sprays. By using advanced sequencing technology, researchers can now rapidly scan thousands of grapevine samples to identify those with natural resistance to disease and environmental stress.
Associate Professor Christopher Winefield, from Lincoln University’s Department of Wine, Food & Molecular Biosciences, who first introduced genomics into his research to explore traits like fungal tolerance and soil health response, is now scaling the project significantly through MGI’s high-throughput sequencing platform.
This approach not only opens a pathway to breed more resilient grape varieties, it also enables real-time monitoring of vineyard conditions, laying the foundation for more targeted, sustainable and cost-effective vineyard management.
The genomics practices allow scientists to map the natural genetic diversity within thousands of grapevines, identifying those with inherent disease resistance. Early findings suggest that, with targeted intervention informed by this data, chemical spray use could be reduced by up to 80% in some vineyards.
“You’re never going to get to zero,” says Winefield , “but even removing a single late-season spray has multiple benefits – lower costs, less residue in the wine and reduced pressure on soil health and the environment.”
